Tourism in Norfolk

Tourism is the largest sector industry in the county, supporting more than 54,000 people and contributing approaching £2.8 billion to the local economy. If you are involved in or studying tourism, or want to find out about Norfolk's tourism industry and the role it plays in the county's economy, take a look below for some of the key Norfolk tourism facts and figures.

Research by Tourism South East estimates that in 2012 there were 3,373,000 staying visitors in Norfolk, staying a total of 14,700,000 nights. The total number of day visitors was estimated at 30,058,000.

The research estimates that 54,245 jobs are directly supported by tourism in Norfolk and that tourism accounts for 15% of employment in Norfolk. The total business turnover supported by tourism is £2,781,196,750.

The first results from the 2011 Census were published 16th July 2012 and show that over 61,000 more people are living in Norfolk now compared with the previous census in 2001.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) carried out the Census and a follow-up coverage survey and produced initial results for population, households, household residents and short term residents, along with information on the quality of the response area by area.

In 2011, Norfolk's population was estimated to be 857,900, an increase of 61,200 from 2001. All local authorities in the County increased in population, the highest being South Norfolk (which gained 13,300) and King's Lynn & West Norfolk (12,200). The lowest increase was in North Norfolk (3,100).

North Norfolk had the largest proportion of people aged 65 and over in the East of England Region (29%), the smallest proportion of people aged 19 and under (19%) and the smallest increase in under fives (4%). The proportion aged 65 and over was the third highest of all local authorities in England and Wales; Norwich had the lowest average household size (2.1); Breckland was the least densely populated (100 people per square kilometre).

Norfolk has more older people than in 2001 – all age groups 55 and over increased, in particular ages 60-64 and 60-69, and there was also a significant increase in 20-24 year olds, though there are fewer children aged 5-14 and fewer adults in their thirties.

There are 372,100 households in Norfolk, with an average household size of 2.26 (the figures vary from 2.34 in Breckland to 2.12 in Norwich). This is 29,000 more households than in 2001, though average household size has only fallen marginally, from 2.27.